Koopers Barrel Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey takes an interesting approach to creating a four-grain bourbon. Koopers blends two Kentucky bourbons distilled by Green River, one with a wheated mash bill and the other with rye, bringing corn, wheat, rye, and malted barley together in the final whiskey. The blend incorporates 6- and 4-year-old bourbon and is bottled at barrel proof. My bottle comes in at a wonderful 113.6 proof.
What makes this combination particularly interesting is the potential contrast between the softer character of wheat and the spice contributed by rye. In this review, however, it’s definitely the spicier side of the whiskey that makes the strongest impression.
Nose
The aroma starts with a clear combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and coriander. There’s almost a Coca-Cola-like quality to it, where those warm spices mingle with a touch of sweetness. Vanilla cream and caramelized sugar emerge underneath, giving the nose enough richness to keep the spice from dominating.
Palate
The palate opens slightly sweet, followed by mildly tart oak and a nice spicy honey-glazed peanut note. There’s a pleasant viscosity as well, not especially heavy, but enough to give the whiskey some body. Peanut brittle comes through again, joined by a bit of youthful white-oak acidity that adds some sharpness around the edges. The baking spices from the nose remain present and help define the overall profile.
Finish
The finish is fairly lengthy, with many of those baking-spice notes carrying over from the nosing experience. Cinnamon and warm spice linger alongside the oak and residual sweetness, giving the whiskey a finish that stays true to its overall character.
Overall
Koopers Barrel Reserve is a solid, enjoyable bourbon that leans toward the baking-spice end of the flavor spectrum. Cinnamon, nutmeg, spiced peanuts, caramelized sugar, and oak form the backbone of the experience. Fortunately, there’s enough vanilla, caramel, and honeyed sweetness to provide balance, so the whiskey never becomes excessively spicy. At 113.6 proof, it delivers plenty of intensity while remaining approachable. It’s a flavorful four-grain bourbon with a distinctly spice-forward personality.
Barrel Reserve Bourbon has an MSRP of $64 and is currently available directly from Koopers, either online or at the Koopers tasting room and distillery in Ledbetter, Texas. At that price, this is a flavorful and reasonably priced cask-strength four-grain bourbon with a distinctly spice-forward personality.